Real Madrid and PSG are reportedly locking horns to sign Franck Kessie, with the French giants leading the chase for the 24-year-old Ivorian midfielder.
According to a report by Catalan outlet El Nacional, the race to sign Franck Kessie has taken a new twist. Paris Saint-Germain are now the front-runners in pursuit of the 24-year-old AC Milan midfielder ahead of Real Madrid, having tabled a contract worth €8 million per year.
Franck Kessie is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in Serie A, having gone from strength to strength since joining AC Milan from Atalanta. Initially signed on loan in the summer of 2017, his move was made permanent two years later. And all this while, he has been a pivotal figure in the Rossoneri’s recent resurgence in Serie A.
To date, Kessie has made 196 appearances for AC Milan, chipping in with 32 goals and 15 assists in the process. However, the Serie A giants are in a precarious position over the 24-year-old’s long-term future, as he is in the final year of his contract with the club. Such a situation has alerted the who’s who of European football, including Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
The interest from Real Madrid is understandable, considering Luka Modric is approaching the end of his glittering career. In addition, Toni Kroos is well into his thirties, which is why Los Blancos are looking to enter the transfer market for a midfielder, even after signing Eduardo Camavinga in the summer.
To that end, it has even been suggested that Real Madrid could move for Kessie in the January transfer window, although a summer approach is likely. PSG are the latest club to have emerged in pursuit of the 24-year-old and are ready to blow the competition away to land him.
The report claims that the French giants are offering a contract worth €8 million per year, which has turned Kessie’s head. The eagerness to sign the AC Milan midfielder makes sense, considering Ander Herrera and Idrissa Gueye are on the wrong side of 30 while Marco Verratti has been bogged down by several injuries recently.
Kessie has already turned down a contract offer from AC Milan, worth €6.5 million per year. And if he accepts the €8 million offer by PSG, he could become the second player in as many years to swap San Siro for Parc des Princes. However, Real Madrid are not throwing in the towel in pursuit of the 24-year-old, and it remains to be seen if they can usurp PSG in the race to sign him.
